Burn Permits | Municipality of West Grey

Burn permits are available for purchase by calling 519-369-2505 or by visiting the West Grey Fire Department.

A permit is required if your fire exceeds two feet in diameter. The cost for a permit is $20 per month or $220 for the entire year. Permits must be obtained at least one hour before starting your fire.

Farmers who are burning brush or other farm-related materials can register their burn free of charge by calling 519-369-2505 at least one hour in advance.

For burns related to demolition, a permit and a site inspection are required before starting the fire.

Permit holders are responsible for their fires and will be billed if the fire department is called to extinguish it.

Always keep water nearby and never leave a fire unattended.

Open Air Burning

Open air burning, defined as any outdoor fire not vented through a chimney or confined to an approved outdoor container, including brush burning for agricultural purposes or burning related to demolition, is regulated by municipal bylaw in West Grey. It is permitted only in rural areas and is strictly prohibited in urban areas. Agricultural operations do not require a permit but must notify the West Grey Fire Service prior to burning. For rural commercial or residential properties, both a permit and notification are required. Demolition-related burning requires a site inspection, permit, and notification. For permits or to provide notification, contact the West Grey Fire Service at 519-369-2505.

Do

Do obtain a permit and notify West Grey Fire Service of burning 519-369-2505
Do burn brush and clean wood only
Do burn between dawn and dusk
Do keep burn pile 10 metres from any building, fence, tree line, road, or overhead wires
Do keep burn pile size to under 3 meters in diameter (start small and add on)
Do keep means to extinguish on hand
Do ensure burning is under constant supervision
Do ensure smoke from fire dose not impact neighbouring persons, properties or roadways
Do ensure fire is fully extinguished

Do Not

Do not burn household garbage, recyclables, refuse, leaves, treated/painted wood, construction materials, shingles, tiers, petroleum products, bail wrap or seed bags
Do not burn from dusk until dawn
Do not burn piles larger than 3 metres in diameter
Do not leave fire un-supervised
Do not burn when smoke will in any way cause discomfort, danger, nuisance to other persons or property
Do not leave a fire that is not fully extinguished
Do not burn during a declared fire ban

Recreation Burning

Recreational fires, which are small fires no larger than 60 centimeters in diameter set in a fire pit or other outdoor container designed to burn clean firewood for warmth, are permitted throughout West Grey in both rural and urban areas and do not require a permit; however, this does not include barbecues or devices solely intended for outdoor cooking, as defined and regulated by municipal bylaw.

Do

Do ensure fire is confined to a fire container or pit not more than 60 centimeters in diameter
Do ensure fire container or pit is 10 meters from anything combustible
Do burn only clean and dry wood
Do keep means to extinguish on hand
Do ensure fire is supervised at all times
Do ensure smoke does not cause discomfort, danger or nuisance to other persons or property
Do ensure fire is fully extinguished

Do Not

Do not set un-contained fires
Do not set fires larger than 60 centimeters in diameter
Do not burn household garbage, recyclables, refuse, leaves, brush, treated/painted wood, construction materials, tiers or petroleum products
Do not leave fire un-supervised
Do not allow smoke to cause discomfort, danger or nuisance to other persons or property
Do not leave a fire that is not fully extinguished
Do not burn during a declared fire ban